Seventy two years ago The Wizard of Oz was a ground breaking film in many respects, from its cast size, production budget, color film sequences to of course its makeup. Mehron Makeup was about to enter its teen years when The Wizard of Oz opened in New York City only blocks from the Mehron Makeup Offices off Broadway in New York City. Already noted for Clown White Makeup, Mehron was also supplying the needs of the burgeoning Theatrical Scene that was happening around the Times Square Area while in Hollywood Legendary Makeup Artist Jack Dawn was coping with the many makeup problems associated with the extravaganza of The Wizard of Oz with its large cast and intricate makeup needs.
With Commercial Production of Theatrical Makeup and shipping limitations, Makeup Artist like Jack Dawn often used Clown White as a base makeup and added the coloring that they wanted to achieve. One of the challenges for the Makeup Department and Costume Designers was how to present the Tin Man. Originally cast as the Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen became gravely ill from the experimental makeup which was Clown White with an aluminum dust coating. Because the aluminum dust coating that was applied over the Clown White was not blended into the Clown White, Mr. Ebsen was breathing in the particles every time he was in makeup. Before production ever began, Mr. Ebsen became seriously ill from the aluminum dust particles that were filling his lungs during rehearsals and publicity shots. With Buddy Ebsen in recuperation, Jack Haley was recast as the Tin Man and the Makeup was changed to a paste that would keep the aluminum dust from being inhaled, despite this Mr. Haley missed some filming days because of an eye infection caused by the Makeup.
Nothing like these mishaps were happening on the stages of Broadway in New York City where Mehron Melik began hand formulating his makeup from hand selected ingredients for the New York Theatrical and Film Actors. Throughout the years Mehron Makeup has had a reputation as a safe, durable, long lasting makeup and continues that tradition over eighty years later as it continues to produce Professional Theatrical Makeup, Clown Makeup, Special Effects Makeup, Face and Body Painting Makeup, Specialty Makeup, and Fashion, Beauty and Extreme Beauty Makeup. Mehron Makeup is still made by the Melik Family in the USA from selected ingredients free from animal testing with safety, stability and excellence in mind.
Unlike Buddy Ebsen and Jack Haley you can safely become the Tin Man for Halloween with Mehron Silver Metallic Powder mixed with Mehron Mixing Liquid which will create an easy to paint on shiny silver coating which will make you look more realistic than the original Tin Man of Wizard of Oz. Mehron Mixing Liquid with Metallic Powder is safe to paint on your skin, it was used for the background dancers of Pink's Performance at The Grammy Awards, and is used around the world by Studio and Stage Makeup Artists, Face and Body Painting Makeup Artists and even Fashion and Beauty Makeup Artists. This Halloween if you want to be the Tin Man you can be the Tin Man safely and easily with Silver Metallic Powder and Mehron Mixing Liquid.
